From touchdown to downtown – how to get from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam city centre

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The fourth-largest airport in Europe, Schiphol Airport has won several prizes for the facilities and activities it offers. Before heading to the city centre of Amsterdam, you can pause to admire paintings from Dutch masters at Rijksmuseum Schiphol, see inside a real Fokker plane or start your city break completely relaxed at one of the airport spas – the choice is yours.
Alternatively, if you can’t wait to get to your Amsterdam apartment, the Dutch capital is calling. Here’s the lowdown on the various options for reaching the city centre from Schiphol Airport.

Taxi

If you’re in a rush or simply want the convenience of being ferried straight to your door, a taxi is the best option. At Schiphol you can choose to either take a taxi with other people (shared transport) or with your own private group (private transport). A taxi ride to the city centre is quite expensive, though, as you approximately pay 40 to 50€. If you do want the simplicity of grabbing a cab, you can catch any taxi in front of Schiphol’s arrivals terminal, which is the airport’s official taxi stand.

Airport Transfer with a Private Car Service

If you are flying into Schiphol Airport for the first time and want the convenience of someone waiting for you once you land, a private airport transfer service is a perfect fit for you. For about the same price as a taxi you will be able to get to the city center in style and comfort. The chauffeur driver will wait for you at the arrivals hall with a name sign and help you with your luggage to the vehicle.
Taking a private airport transfer is also ideal if you are planning on traveling outside of the city, where no public transportation goes for you will know the driver knows where to go and will take the shortest time possible.
Our recommended company for this service in Amsterdam is myDriver Airport Transfer Amsterdam.

Private transfer from the Airport - booking online

Train

Taking the train to the city centre is the most convenient travel option, in terms of both comfort and speed. The train journey to central Amsterdam takes only 15 to 20 minutes. The main train operator across the Netherlands is Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), which operates trains from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central Station.

Schiphol’s train station is located directly underneath the airport and trains run 24 hours a day. From 06:00 to 00:00 trains depart several times an hour. During the night, from midnight to 12am to 06:00, there’s only one train per hour. If you’d like a more detailed overview of your train journey, you can always check the timetables at the official website of the NS. Please note that Amsterdam Central Station is not the only destination the NS trains run to, as they also head to the outskirts of the city, such as Amsterdam Sloterdijk and Amsterdam Amstel.

A ticket for a one-way journey costs 3.30€ and €7.80 for a same-day return journey (although you’re unlikely to need that one if you’re in town for a few days’ holiday). You can buy train tickets at the yellow ticket machines on the platforms at Schiphol Plaza or at the NS offices near the Meeting Point, which is a large square cube, at the same Plaza.

Bus

Schiphol Airport has a large number of bus connections to Amsterdam. Bus lines 197 and 370 (Interliner) run to Leidseplein, which is located in the city centre and Oud Zuid during the day. Buses depart every 15 minutes. If you’re travelling at night, you can take bus lines 97 and 358 (Niteliner) to the same destinations. These buses run from 00.30 to 05:00.

To board the bus, head to Schiphol Plaza, in front of the arrivals and departures terminal. For more detailed information about your travel schedule, you can visit the 9292 website, which shows you the exact departure and arrival times for several transport options, including the bus. The journey takes 30 minutes and a one-way ticket costs 4€, which you need to buy on board.